Gustavo Madero, head of the Partido Acción Nacional (PAN), to his credit declared that PAN will promote reforms on the state level that will block women from being thrown in prison for having an abortion (or even a miscarriage, as has often happened).
It is about time the national PAN makes a move to counteract the shameless legislation passed the past 3-4 years in at least 18 states, by PAN and PRI legislators, that essentially makes any abortion - along with many birth control options - a crime.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Blake Mora: "Not a single casino more" rings pathetically hollow
Mexico's dour and virtually non-existent Interior Secretary José Francisco Blake Mora, came out loudly yesterday against casinos, declaring that "not one more" will be allowed.
It begs the question: Why did the PAN for the last ten years allow the establishment of these semi-criminal dens, which bring nothing but misery to the areas where they are established, and, it has again and again be proven, lead to more crime in the area?
These thoroughly immoral - in the true sense of the word - establishments should never have allowed in the first place.
I very strongly recommend Denise Dresser's recent anti-casino column in Proceso in this regard.
It begs the question: Why did the PAN for the last ten years allow the establishment of these semi-criminal dens, which bring nothing but misery to the areas where they are established, and, it has again and again be proven, lead to more crime in the area?
These thoroughly immoral - in the true sense of the word - establishments should never have allowed in the first place.
I very strongly recommend Denise Dresser's recent anti-casino column in Proceso in this regard.
No reelection of legislators and mayors after committee member switches vote
More negative news this week, unfortunately: No reelection of mayors or legislators
Having passed in the Senate, there was actually a good chance that the Reforma polìtica of Calderón would finally pass, though it is now much-changed, not all for the better.
It looked like finally Mexico would have reelection, but in the Chamber´s Constitutional commission, one PRD legislator, having earlier voted in favor of a dictamen or opinion, broke with her party to abstain, with the result that the reform, opposed by PRI and the PVEM "Green" party (though not in the Senate, where Peña Nieto has far less sway), will likely not include reelection of legislators and local mayors- a big demand from many holds, including several key civil society organizations.
The PRD legislator, Dina Herrera Soto, from Michoacán, was removed from the Commission by her party, which strongly insinuates that Herrera changed her vote after pressure-enticement from the PRI.
Circumstantial evidence for the above accusation: When she later walked into the Chamber's main hall, she was greeted with applause by the PRI.
I wonder what her price was.
Having passed in the Senate, there was actually a good chance that the Reforma polìtica of Calderón would finally pass, though it is now much-changed, not all for the better.
It looked like finally Mexico would have reelection, but in the Chamber´s Constitutional commission, one PRD legislator, having earlier voted in favor of a dictamen or opinion, broke with her party to abstain, with the result that the reform, opposed by PRI and the PVEM "Green" party (though not in the Senate, where Peña Nieto has far less sway), will likely not include reelection of legislators and local mayors- a big demand from many holds, including several key civil society organizations.
The PRD legislator, Dina Herrera Soto, from Michoacán, was removed from the Commission by her party, which strongly insinuates that Herrera changed her vote after pressure-enticement from the PRI.
Circumstantial evidence for the above accusation: When she later walked into the Chamber's main hall, she was greeted with applause by the PRI.
I wonder what her price was.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Mexico's electoral institute prohibits political debates among contenders
I am not a legal expert, but it seems to me that Mexico's Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE) has truly gone overboard this time, far beyond its rights and duties: A couple of days ago, IFE decided to sanction the PRD and PAN for having held a debate among "pre-candidates," or among those vying to be their party's nominee for the governorship of Nayarit.
This in effect bans what are really primaries, and is an enormous extension of the IFE's reach.
The PT and Convergencia, to their discredit, had complained that a PAN and a PRD candidate, without officially having become their party's nominee, held a televised debate months ago, and IFE now struck it down as illegal.
Yes, holding a political debate is illegal until one is the party's nominee.
Waiting for a an AMLO-Ebrard televised showdown? A Peña Nieto-Beltrones debate over who has the best program? Forget it - IFE has banned it.
This is truly preposterous.
This in effect bans what are really primaries, and is an enormous extension of the IFE's reach.
The PT and Convergencia, to their discredit, had complained that a PAN and a PRD candidate, without officially having become their party's nominee, held a televised debate months ago, and IFE now struck it down as illegal.
Yes, holding a political debate is illegal until one is the party's nominee.
Waiting for a an AMLO-Ebrard televised showdown? A Peña Nieto-Beltrones debate over who has the best program? Forget it - IFE has banned it.
This is truly preposterous.
Setback for abortion rights: Extremist state-level abortion legislation left standing
The Supreme Court voted 7-4 in Mexico to overturn extremist anti-abortion legislation on the state level (in Baja California), but it wasn't enough: Eight votes were needed.
This is tragic news, on very many levels. In Baja California (and possibly SLP - vote still pending over its legislation), many, many, women will die from unsanitary illegal abortions or will denied having abortions even if giving birth may cause their death. In other states, PRI and PAN local legislators will feel emboldened by the Supreme Court decision to press similar legislation.
The PRD and parts of PRI rightfully criticized Calderón's shameful intervention in the debate yesterday, threatening to push legislation to withdraw Mexico's reservations against the 1969 San José Pact.
The day after pill? Forget it; it will now be defined as murder.
A miscarriage? Unless you can prove it, you may be facing murder charges.
A sad day yesterday for Mexican women and human rights.
This is tragic news, on very many levels. In Baja California (and possibly SLP - vote still pending over its legislation), many, many, women will die from unsanitary illegal abortions or will denied having abortions even if giving birth may cause their death. In other states, PRI and PAN local legislators will feel emboldened by the Supreme Court decision to press similar legislation.
The PRD and parts of PRI rightfully criticized Calderón's shameful intervention in the debate yesterday, threatening to push legislation to withdraw Mexico's reservations against the 1969 San José Pact.
The day after pill? Forget it; it will now be defined as murder.
A miscarriage? Unless you can prove it, you may be facing murder charges.
A sad day yesterday for Mexican women and human rights.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Paredes keeps deafening silence on abortion issue
In 2012, Mexico City will elect a new mayor. They deserve someone with far more guts than Beatriz Paredes Rangel, likely PRI candidate: While the Supreme Court is undertaking a revision of extremist legislation on abortion enacted in two of Mexico's states, Paredes - former PRI leader, and someone who claims a "center-left" political orientation, refuses to even state her position on abortion, and the Supreme Court's upcoming decision. To recall, the legislation removes any right for women to choose to have an abortion, even in cases of rape, and declares that life begins at "conception."
Yet Paredes won't say anything at all about what she thinks about this legislation, virulently hostile to women, which was introduced in half of Mexico's state with the backing of her party when she was its national president.
This is political cowardice, pure and simple - and not worthy of a political leader
Yet Paredes won't say anything at all about what she thinks about this legislation, virulently hostile to women, which was introduced in half of Mexico's state with the backing of her party when she was its national president.
This is political cowardice, pure and simple - and not worthy of a political leader
"Enough of Televisa Abuses" NGO formed ("Ya basta de abusos de Televisa")
Now here's a civic organization that I'd gladly support: The recently formed "Ya basta de abusos de Televisa" or "Enough of Televisa Abuses," referring to the powerful yet much-criticized television network Televisa.
Its objective? To remove Televisa's license to broadcast. That'll be the day, but I still am allowed to long for it.
Its objective? To remove Televisa's license to broadcast. That'll be the day, but I still am allowed to long for it.
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